Lamar Odom could start on almost every team in the NBA. Instead he is coming off the bench for the two-time defending champs and on Tuesday he was rightfully honored as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. Odom is having one of his best seasons as a member of the Lakers, he seems to have accepted his role with Los Angeles, and is the ultimate X factor and the stabilizer for the bench bunch in LA.

Lamar Odom joined ESPN 710 in Los Angeles with Mason and Ireland to talk about whether or not he ever thought about taking home this honor, how he was able to get through the stuff he has had to deal with in the past, and if he would rather come off the bench or start for the Lakers.

Whether or not he ever thought about taking home the Sixth Man Award:

“It never did. What was more important and how I had the feeling it would come one day, was like I keep getting better as a basketball player, we win, but I will tell you ever since I came off the bench the crowd would give me this energy like right when I check into the game and it’s done something to me since I’ve started to come off the bench. It’s given me this boost and this shot of confidence that I can’t really explain. It just kinda let me know that this city has a lot of love, appreciates what I do, what I’ve done, and it’s just an amazing feeling and it’s hard for me to talk. I’m still getting a little emotional talking about it.”

How he was able to get through the stuff he has had to deal with in the past:

“I would put it on the grace of my mother and my grandmother. My father is a charismatic type of guy and I have always hung with the older crowd and when I think about the past year I guess me being raised a certain way and having a certain type of love instilled in me is showing off. The last 18 to 20 months have been a whirlwind as far as things being thrown my way and as far as success is concerned. I’m just so lucky to soak it all in. To be here, my decision making has changed and I’m just blessed.”

If he would rather start or come off the bench for the Lakers:

“It depends. My choice would be to do whatever it takes to remain a Laker and to do whatever it takes to keep this team together, to do whatever it takes to be a part of this city for the rest of my life. Whatever I would have to do to keep that going I will do.”